The Arizona sentinel., 1887-10-29
HOW TO RUN A RAILROAD.
What DtsgruntIed Editor Overheard in |
 Railway Presidents Ofice.

What a DisgruntIed Editor Overheard in .
 Railway Presidents Office.
 I happened in the general headquar- ters of one of our prominent railroads the other day and wandered around for some time. Among other things noticed was large sign readings Editors don't pass here.h It brought to mind the fierce and whitening infiu- ences of the Interstate Commerce law, and stopped and wept silently. While thus giving way to my grief I heard earnest conversation in the office and looked in the door. The presi- dent of the road was conversing with one of the superintendents.
 Let mo see, n said the president; you took enough timber out of the Roaring creek bridge and those two culverts to rebuild that bridge where the train dropped through last week?"
 70, yes, and had lot left /" replied the superintendent,
 'Just have what was left sent up to my house-it'n come in handy next winter for kindling-wood. By the way, you had better tighten up all the bridges little-they were built alto p gether to heavy at first
 "Pm doing sol don't put any thing heavier than two by-fours in any of the new bridges. I have new scheme for heavy timbers on large bridges"
 What's that?'
 sf 4o1- f1, ,1h nd ofl them together, making what appears to be timber six-by-six, or larger, ac- cording to the width of the boards. Hollow great saving of timber, you seer'
 'Y-a-e-s, that so, replied the pres ident as he put his feet up on the waste basket; but inch boards, you say, inch boards-what about half inch?'
 ''They would probably be better you've managed railroads longer than Ihave."
 "And you nail lem together" con- tinued the president, as he appeared to be lost in thought You know nails are expensive"
 ''Yes; we might glue 'em at the cor ners"
 That's more like it-or seems to me if they were put up together that they would be apt to .stay-might sort of wedge 'em little at the ends some- how. Mebby you better use glue, how ever-the public likes to see things good and strong"
 ''Yes; we got to cater to the public little"
 z ''Of course Don't want 'em to get into the habit of walking. By the way, they seem to be getting struck on iron bridges"
 ''Yes, I've noticed it."
 Well. any thing to please 'em," said the obIiging president 'I told our chief engineer to bring in plan for a bridge intended especially for the public Go stand and look at and lose it. self in admiration. It is to be of heavy sheet iron, but fear the style will be altogether too expensive" "
 70. yes, it would-got to think of something cheaper than that"
 ''I have little plan here of bridge which l made myself" continued the president as he drew paper out of private desk. You will observe that it is made wholly of tin, hollow tin tubes, painted vigorous and power- ful black"
 That good" said the superintend- ent, beginning to get enthusiastic, that's first-rate. Still little costly though. tell you the ideal railroad bridge must be made out of paper very cheap, and when properly paint ed has regular earthquake-defying look"
 You're right there, papers the thing, and I'd have introduced bridges of it on our line long ago if it wasn't for their liability to all soak up and collapse every time it rains"
 They'd have to be vanished to pre- vent that and there comes the matter of expense again."
 ''Yes. that's the wayit goes, expense at every turn. l tell you, the truly ideal way to run railroad, if it could be arranged" continued the president, as he strengthened up, would be to have the locomotive when it comes to river or ravine get up on its hind wheels and jump it and jerk the train right along, Yes, sir, and beliS the time is coming when they will i'lc it, too-run like thunder before they come to a place where we now have 8 bridge, and when they get there they will r ar right up and snort couple of times and clear the thing at one jump, and jerk thirteen coaches behind 'em! I tell you there would be little money for the stockholders-and presi- dents and superintendents-then with no bridges to build at allr'
 That would be big thing. sure enough" replied the superintendent 'The railroad man would have a little show then.
 By the way-how are the car stoves about time for 'em, you know?"
 They're in bad shape-most of them ripped up the back.
 70, that's nothing-wire lem up. wire em up. Got to make 'em last another winter. And say, you better have personal interview with each county coroner where our road runs and Oive 'en a little stOck-oon't telI